Map your movie

ABSTRACT

A method of displaying an interactive geographical representation associated with a video content item is described. The method includes: playing the video content item, wherein the video content item includes at least one scene; requesting relevant metadata associated with the at least one video scene, the relevant metadata including a geographical representation and geolocation metadata associated with the at least video scene; receiving the relevant metadata; and displaying an interactive geographical representation along with at least one visual indication, wherein the at least one visual indication is associated with the at least one video scene and positioned at a location indicated by the geolocation metadata. Related systems, apparatus and methods are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for dynamic andoptimal display of geographical information related to a video contentitem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In digital devices, a user interface (UI) is used to provide an easy andefficient way to use the digital device and information. A user manuallymoves a pointer using an input unit such as a keypad, keyboard or mouse,and can command a digital device to perform a desired operation byselecting a graphics object indicated by the pointer. A UI is typicallydisplayed on the device's screen and navigated via a client device (e.g.a Set-Top Box). Increasingly ubiquitous companion devices such ascomputers, mobile telephones, tablet computers or other suitablehandheld devices can also be used now for UI viewing and/or navigation.Depending on the companion device used, such UIs are usually navigatedusing a variety of tools including, for example, a computer mouse for acomputer, keypads buttons for a mobile telephone, or even the user'sfingers for UIs that support direct manipulation.

Different menus and/or applications are also accessible through a UI andprovide the user with additional information related to a particulartelevision program. A user can now browse the UI to know more about, forexample, the characters, the actors, the director, etc. of a particulartelevision program.

Hence, using a companion device as a second display may be useful todisplay the UI itself and/or additional information related to aparticular television program, thereby providing the user with anenhanced viewing experience. Indeed, the television can be viewed in anoptimal manner (e.g. in full size on a first display) while displayingadditional information on a second display. Furthermore, a significantamount of additional information may be used to enhance the user'sviewing experience.

U.S. Issued Pat. No. 6,741,790 of Red Hen Systems Inc. describes ahardware device (40) and software, which are configurable and operablein three modes: recording mode, indexing mode, and playback mode. In therecording mode, the hardware device (40) is connected to a GPS receiver(44) and video recording device (42), and permits GPS data to berecorded on the same recording medium that images are recorded on usingthe video recording device (42). As a result, a particular geographiclocation associated with particular images can be directly referenced byGPS data. After recording the images, the hardware device (40) isconnected to a computer (46) having the software of the presentinvention installed, and the system causes GPS data to be transferredfrom the recording medium to the computer (46) as the recorded imagesare replayed. During this step, called the indexing mode, the computer(46) draws a map showing all of the GPS referenced locations recorded onthe recording medium. Each map location represents a location whereimages were recorded with GPS data. Once the indexing mode is completed,the system can be used to play back the images recorded, in accordancewith the selection of a location on a map. During this step, called theplayback mode, a marker may be selected on the computer (46) generatedindexed map, and the system will cause the video recording device (42)to play back the images that were recorded at that selected location.Alternatively, if the recorded images have been transferred to someother media, for example CD ROM or hard disk, the system will cause thecomputer (46) to play back the images that were recorded at thatselected location.

U.S. Published Patent Application 2002/0048054 of Ohata et al.,describes an on-demand image delivery server delivering designated imagedata based on a request from a client terminal with one or a pluralityof retrieval items as a retrieval condition inputted from the clientterminal, made up by a retrieval function portion, which retrieves oneor a plurality of image resource databases, and a retrieval resultdisplaying function portion, which displays on the screen of the clientterminal for confirmation of contents of image data subject to delivery,simplified image data of the image data matching a retrieval conditionand/or data regarding attached contents-related information.

U.S. Published Patent Application 2011 of Apple Inc., describes systemsand techniques for associating and presenting media content items withlocations on a geographical track path. For example, the frames of avideo segment can be associated with locations on a track path. Thetrack path can be based on position data, including position coordinatesand a corresponding time coordinates, obtained while the video frameswere captured. Locations for the video frames can be determined based ona start time of the video segment, a frame rate of the video segment,and the position data. The video segment can be displayed with usercontrols that enable a user to manipulate the frame of the video segmentbeing displayed including a time indicator and a location indicatordisplayed on the track path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention a method of displaying an interactive geographicalrepresentation associated with a video content item, the methodincluding: playing the video content item, wherein the video contentitem includes at least one scene; requesting relevant metadataassociated with the at least one video scene, the relevant metadataincluding a geographical representation and geolocation metadataassociated with the at least video scene; receiving the relevantmetadata; and displaying an interactive geographical representationalong with at least one visual indication, wherein the at least onevisual indication is associated with the at least one video scene andpositioned at a location indicated by the geolocation metadata.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, themethod further includes: retrieving a time elapsed since a start timefor the video content item; and identifying at least one video sceneaccording to the elapsed time, the identified at least one video scenecorresponding to a video scene of the video content item displayed atthe elapsed time.

Still further, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the receiving the relevant metadata includes receiving, forat least one video scene, one or more of: a thumbnail image; a summary;geolocation metadata; a geographical representation; and a scale factor.

Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,the displaying the interactive geographical representation includescentering the interactive geographical representation on the locationindicated by the geolocation metadata.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, theat least one visual indication is a thumbnail image characterizing theat least one video scene.

Still further, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the method further includes: receiving an input relevant tothe interactive geographical representation displayed along with the atleast one visual indication; updating the interactive geographicalrepresentation in response to the input; and displaying the updatedinteractive geographical representation.

Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,the receiving an input includes receiving a user input requestingfurther information associated with the at least one visual indication.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thereceiving an input includes receiving a user input requesting displayingthe interactive geographical representation according to a differentscale factor.

Still further, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the receiving an input includes receiving an input signalinga video scene change.

Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,the playing the video content item includes playing the video contentitem at a first device; and the displaying an interactive geographicalrepresentation includes displaying an interactive geographicalrepresentation at a second device.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thevideo content item is an event requested by a user.

Still further, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the first device is a client device.

Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,the receiving an input and the displaying the updated interactivegeographical representation include receiving an input and displayingthe updated interactive geographical representation at a second device.

Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thesecond device is a companion device.

There is also provided with a further embodiment of the presentinvention, a companion device including: means for playing a videocontent item, wherein the video content item includes at least one videoscene; means for requesting relevant metadata associated with the atleast one video scene, the relevant metadata including a geographicalrepresentation and geolocation metadata associated with the at leastvideo scene; means for receiving the relevant metadata; and means fordisplaying an interactive geographical representation along with atleast one visual indication, wherein the at least one visual indicationis associated with the at least one video scene and positioned at alocation indicated by the geolocation metadata.

There is also provided with a further embodiment of the presentinvention, a companion device including: a video player operative toplay a video content item, wherein the video content item includes atleast one video scene; a processor operable to request relevant metadataassociated with the at least one video scene, the relevant metadataincluding a geographical representation and geolocation metadataassociated with the at least one video scene; a receiver operable toreceive the relevant metadata; and a rendering screen operable todisplay an interactive geographical representation along with at leastone visual indication, wherein the at least one visual indication isassociated with the at least one video scene and positioned at alocation indicated by the geolocation metadata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a systemconstructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a headend databaseconstructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an information flow diagram showing the information flowsbetween the different apparatuses of the system constructed andoperative in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of operating a companion device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A to 5D are pictorial illustrations showing different examples ofscreens displayed on a companion device in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the various principles ofthe present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat not all these details are necessarily always required forpracticing the present invention. In this instance, well-known circuits,control logic, and the details of computer program instructions forconventional algorithms and processes have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the general concepts unnecessarily.

Although the principles of the present invention are largely describedherein in relation to a television broadcast environment and relatedtelevision applications, this is an example selected for convenience ofpresentation, and is not limiting.

System Architecture

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified block diagramillustration of a system constructed and operative in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

A headend 110 typically communicates with a plurality of client devices120 via a communication network 130. Additionally or alternatively, aplurality of headends 110 communicate with a single client device 120 orwith a plurality of client devices 120 via the communication network130. For simplicity of depiction and description, and without limitingthe generality of the invention, only one client device 120communication with only one headend 110 is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The communication network 130 is a one-way or two-way communicationnetwork that includes at least one of the following: a satellite basedcommunication network; a cable based communication network; aconventional terrestrial broadcast television network; a telephony basedcommunication network; a telephony based television broadcast network; amobile-telephony based television broadcast network; an InternetProtocol (IP) television broadcast network; and a computer basedcommunication network. It is appreciated that in alternativeembodiments, the communication network 130 may, for example, beimplemented by a one-way or two-way hybrid communication network, suchas a combination cable-telephone network, a combinationsatellite-telephone network, a combination satellite-computer basedcommunication network, or by any other appropriate network. Other waysof implementing the communication network 130 will be apparent tosomeone skilled in the art.

The system of FIG. 1 comprises a client device 120 disposed between aheadend 110 and a display device 140. Client device 120 comprises adigital video recorder (DVR) that typically includes a high capacitystorage device, such as a hard disk or high capacity memory. Clientdevice 120 is coupled to a display device 140. Client device 120typically comprises a tuner, a demultiplexer, a decoder, a receiver anda descrambler. It is appreciated that the client device 120 comprisesstandard hardware components and software components, as is well knownin the art.

Client device 120 is typically connected in operation to display device140 via a digital AV interface (e.g. HDMI, DVI, etc.) or via an analogueAV interface (e.g. component (RGB, YPbPr), composite (NTSC, PAL, SECAM),S-video, SCART, RF coaxial, D-Terminal (D-tanshi) etc.). While shown asseparate entities in FIG. 1, the client device 120 may be integral withthe display device 140 in other embodiments of the present invention.

Client device 120 typically receives, demultiplexes, decodes anddecrypts/descrambles as necessary a broadcast television stream receivedfrom a headend 110 optionally under control of a conditional accessdevice such as removable security element as is well known in the art.The removable security element typically includes a smart card as iswell known in the art. The output from client device 120 comprises adecoded and decrypted/descrambled as necessary audio video (AV) streamready to be displayed on the display device 140.

Display device 140 is typically operated by a user, for example via aremote control unit (RCU) 150. Using a RCU 150, a user can select an AVcontent to view, such as a live event broadcast, a Video-On-Demand (VOD)asset, a recorded event, etc. The operating system software withinclient device 120 monitors user interaction with display device 140and/or client device 120 and maintains a database of service and eventinformation. The operating system software enables the user to choose anevent/service to view.

Furthermore, a companion device 160 is provided that is operable tocommunicate with the client device 120 using any suitable connectivitylink (e.g. wireless connection over Internet Protocol). The companiondevice 160 is further operable to communicate with the headend 110through the communication network 130. FIG. 1 shows only onecommunication network 130. However, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the companion device 160 may communicate directly withthe headend 110 using the same or a different communication network 130.The companion device 160 may be, for example, but without limiting thegenerality of the invention, a laptop computer, a desktop or personalcomputer (PC), a tablet computer such as an iPad™, a mobile computingdevice, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), mobile phone, or anysuitable handheld device. Companion device 160 comprises a processor, avideo player, a receiver and a rendering screen. It is appreciated thatthe companion device 160 comprises standard hardware components andsoftware components, as is well known in the art. The companion device160 may further be any device able to communicate with a client device120 and/or a headend 110 as long as it includes a rendering screen fordisplaying content and data information to a user.

A user is typically able to select an event or a service to be displayedon the display device 140. Furthermore, the user is also able to run anapplication that may be locally executed on the companion device 160thereby enabling communication with the client device 120 and theheadend 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theapplication may also be run by the user using an RCU 150 via a dedicatedmenu in the UI rendered on the display device 140. The application isoperable to communicate with the client device 120 to retrieveinformation about the event currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. Then, the application is further operable to query adatabase 111 typically located at the headend premises using theinformation retrieved from the client device 120. The database 111typically returns relevant metadata, including geolocation metadata, foreach video scene of the event currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. Finally, the relevant metadata may be used to display ageographical representation of the event currently being displayed onthe display device 140. Displaying such a geographical representation ofan event currently being displayed on a display device 140 enriches theuser's viewing experience by giving him a better understanding of whereand how the action takes place.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified block diagramillustration of a headend database constructed and operative inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The database 211 is typically located at the headend 210 and typicallycomprises metadata related to a plurality of video content items 212.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this database 211 may bein any suitable form and located in any suitable part of the system ofthe present invention. Other ways of implementing the database 211, suchas using a plurality of databases, will be apparent to someone skilledin the art.

A video content item 212(i) typically comprises a sequence of videoframes representing one or more video scenes. It will be appreciatedthat in a theatrical presentation such as a movie or television program,a video scene typically corresponds to the place where an action, realor imaginary, occurs. In an embodiment of the present invention, a videocontent item 212(i) is identified by a video content identifier and aset of metadata is provided for each video scene of the video contentitem 212(i). For a particular video scene of a video content item212(i), the set of metadata typically comprises at least:

-   -   a start time (T_start(j));    -   an end time (T_end(j));    -   a description; and    -   geolocation metadata.        The geolocation metadata may be provided, for example, as Global        Positioning System (GPS) data, Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya        Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) data, GALILEO data, BeiDou        (Compass) Navigation Satellite System, Geographic Messaging        System (GMS), or any suitable positioning data. The geolocation        metadata typically corresponds to a location where the action of        the particular video scene, real or imaginary, occurs. The        description metadata is typically a summary of the video scene        but may also comprise further metadata such as the name of the        characters, the name of the actors, etc., given as non-limiting        examples. Additional metadata may also be provided as part of        the set of metadata such as a thumbnail image characterizing a        particular video scene, detailed information on the place where        the action of a particular video scene, real or imaginary,        occurs (e.g. text information, pictures, etc.), a geographical        representation (e.g. a map) relevant to the video content item        212(i) and retrieved from any suitable content source and/or a        scale factor to be used for drawing and/or displaying the        geographical representation. These additional metadata may also        comprise data indicating a position of the video scene among the        video content item 212(i). For example, these data may indicate        that the video scene is, for example but without limiting the        generality of the present invention, the first, the third, etc.        or the last video scene of the video content item. Another way        to indicate the position may be indicating the previous and next        video scene of the video content item. When the geographical        representation is drawn and/or displayed, these data may be used        to indicate the logical sequence of the video scenes. In another        embodiment of the present invention, several sets of metadata        may be provided for a single video scene. This may be useful in        situations where the action of a video scene occurs in several        places. In a further embodiment of the present invention, a        plurality of maps is provided, each map from said plurality of        maps being associated to a video scene of the video content item        212(i). The geographical representation may be, for example, and        without limiting the generality of the present invention, a        geographical map of a particular area (city, region, country,        etc.), real or imaginary, showing where (in which street(s),        road(s), etc.) an action occurs.

The video content items 212 which populate the database and theirassociated metadata may be selected and provided by a TV broadcaster, aplatform operator, a content provider or any third party entity. Hence,a wide selection of regular TV broadcast events, VOD assets, and othervideo content items may be available to be used by the applicationand/or the end user. In another embodiment of the present invention, theheadend database 211 is further configurable to provide video contentitems of interest to a user by retrieving information from the clientdevice. Upon connection to the client device, the headend database 211may determine that additional video content items may be stored in thedatabase 211. These additional video content items may include, forexample:

-   -   events of adjacent services (i.e. events of services listed in        the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) by a television operator        immediately before and after the one currently being displayed        on the display device 140; and/or    -   events of the n services listed in the Electronic Program Guide        (EPG) by a television operator before and after the one        currently being displayed on the display device 140); and/or    -   events of a user's favorite services (i.e. a list of services        marked by the user as favorite services in an EPG); and/or    -   events of the most frequently watched services; and/or    -   events of the last watched services; and/or    -   events of the services matching the user's profile or interest;        and/or    -   events of the services in which said user has made the most        recordings; and/or    -   services browsed in an Electronic Program Guide; and/or    -   services listed by a television operator; and/or    -   events recorded by the user.        Furthermore, the database 211 may also be updated regularly by a        TV broadcaster, a platform operator, a content provider or any        third party entity in order to make available new video content        items 212 and their associated metadata to users of the        application.

Finally the headend database 211 is able to support any traditionalquery system. For example, but without limiting the generality of theinvention, Structured Query Language (SQL) may be used by the companiondevice 160 for querying and retrieving the set of relevant metadata fromthe headend database 211.

Operation

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is an information flow diagramshowing the information flows between the different apparatuses of thesystem of FIGS. 1 and 2:

At step 301, the user can select an event or a service to be displayedon the display device 140 by operating an RCU 150 e.g. a remote control.Upon reception of the user's choice, the client device tunes to theselected event or service on a headend 110 (step 302) and demultiplexes,decodes and decrypts/descrambles as necessary the broadcast televisionstream received from the headend 110 in order to display the selectedevent on the display device 140 (step 303).

In parallel to watching the displayed event, the user may decide, in anembodiment of the present invention, to run an application on hiscompanion device 160 (step 304) to obtain additional geographicalinformation regarding the event currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. The application is typically executed locally on thecompanion device 160. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theapplication may be a distributed computing application and therefore,that the application may be executed in any or in a plurality ofsuitable computing devices of a distributed computing system. Aconnection is established with the client device 120 and the companiondevice 160 then outputs a request to the client device 120 to retrievedata that specifically characterizes the event currently being displayedon the display device (step 305). For example, but without limiting thegenerality of the invention, the request may be achieved using aJavaScript Object Notation (JSON) request over HyperText TransferProtocol (HTPP). The client device 120 processes the request andresponds by sending back to the companion device relevant dataincluding, but not limited to, an identifier and a timeline position ofthe event currently being displayed on the display device (step 306).The identifier identifies the event being displayed on the displaydevice 140 at the time the user launched the application and/or at thetime the client device 120 processed the request. The identifier istypically the event id retrieved from an Event Information Table (EIT)but any other identifier may be used as long as it is interpretable andsuitable for use by the companion device 160. The timeline positiontypically corresponds to the time elapsed since the beginning of theevent e.g. the duration between the start time of the event and the timewhen the user launched the application on the companion device 160and/or the client device 120 processed the request.

At the time the companion device 160 receives the relevant data(identifier and timeline position of the event currently being displayedon the display device 140), a subsequent query is generated by theapplication and sent to the headend database 111 in order to retrieverelevant metadata related to the event currently being displayed on thedisplay device 140 (step 307). The event identifier is used to identifyin the database 111 the corresponding video content item by comparing itto the different video content item identifiers present in the database111.

Once the corresponding video content item is identified as being the onebeing currently displayed on the display device 140, the timelineposition is used to identify which video scene is currently beingdisplayed on the display device 140. The relevant metadata correspondingto the identified video scene are then retrieved and sent back to thecompanion device 160 as results of the query (step 308).

At step 309, the companion device 160 receives the relevant metadata anduses them to draw and display a geographical representation (e.g. a map)corresponding to the geographical area where the action of theidentified video scene takes place. The map may be retrieved by thecompanion device 160 from any suitable content source such as, forexample, the Internet, from other users or may be provided as part ofthe relevant metadata associated to each video content item 212(i) andthen displayed on the companion device 160. In another embodiment of thepresent invention, the map may be drawn directly by the companion device160 for display. Additionally, the map is overlaid by a visualindication indicating the position of the identified video scene on themap. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this visualindication may be in any appropriate form as long as the user of theapplication is able to easily see the position of the identified videoscene on the map. Having this map rendered on the companion device 160enhances the user's viewing experience by having a map optimallydisplayed on the companion device 160. In another embodiment of thepresent invention, the relevant metadata may be received and processedat the client device 120. Then, a map may be drawn and/or displayed oneither the display device 140 or the companion device 160. When the mapis drawn and/or displayed on the companion device 160, the companiondevice 160 may be used as a simple secondary display and is not used forprocessing any data. It may be useful in order to balance the workloadsince the client device 120 may have more computing power and resourcesthan the companion device 160.

At step 310, the user may enter an input by interacting with the mapdisplayed on the companion device 160. This input may be, for example, arequest for displaying additional information related to a particularvideo scene and/or a request for displaying additional information onthe actors or characters present in a particular video scene and/or arequest for displaying the map according to a different scale factoretc. The companion device may process the input (step 311) and updatethe map in response to the user's input (step 312).

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a flow chart diagram of amethod of operating a companion device 160 constructed and operative inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

At start, a user may decide to run an application to obtain geographicalinformation related to an event currently being displayed on a displaydevice 140. The application is typically executed locally on thecompanion device 160 and first outputs a request that is sent to theclient device 120 to retrieve the identifier (event_id) and the timelineposition (Tp) of the event currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. Then, in response to the request, the companion device 160receives the event id and the timeline position of the event currentlybeing displayed on the display device 140 (step 406).

At step 408, the companion device 160 uses the received information(event_id and Tp) to query a database 111 located at the headend 110.The event_id is used to identify in the database 111 the correspondingvideo content item 212(i) by comparing it to the different video contentitem identifiers present in the database. Once the corresponding videocontent item 212(i) is identified as being the one being currentlydisplayed on the display device 140, the timeline position is used todetermine which video scene is currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. The timeline position (Tp) is compared to the start and endtimes (T_start( ) and T_end( )) of each video scene of the video contentitem. As disclosed hereinabove, for each video content item 212populating the database, relevant metadata corresponding to thedifferent video scenes of the video content item are provided, includingstart and end times of each of the video scenes. The video scene (VSj)of the video content item 212(i) currently being displayed on thedisplay device 140 may be identified when it is determined that:

-   -   the timeline position (Tp) is more than a start time of a video        scene (T_start(j))−j being an integer number comprised between 1        and n, n also being an integer number corresponding to the last        scene of the identified video content item: Tp>T_start(j); and    -   the timeline position (Tp) is less than an end time of a video        scene (T_end(j)): Tp<T_end(j)

In an embodiment of the present invention, the relevant metadatacorresponding to the video scene (VSj) in the video content item 212(i)identified as being currently displayed on the display device 140 arethen sent back to the companion device 160. At step 408, the companiondevice 160 receives the relevant metadata and uses them to draw and/ordisplay a geographical representation (e.g. a map) corresponding to thegeographical area where the action of the video scene (VSj) takes place(step 409). Additionally, the GPS data of the video scene (Gj) currentlybeing displayed on the display device 140 may be used to position thevisual indication on the map. Furthermore, the map displayed on thecompanion device 160 may be centered so that the visual indication ispositioned at the center of the companion device display screen.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the visual indicationindicating the position of a video scene on the map may be a thumbnailimage. This thumbnail image specifically characterizes a particularvideo scene (VSj) of a video content item 212(i) so that the user, whenlooking at the map, can easily identify this particular video scene(VSj). The thumbnail image may be, for example, a still image or a videoframe retrieved from any appropriate content source.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the video content item212(i) comprises video frames representing multiple video scenes. Hence,the relevant metadata corresponding to the video scenes (VS1; . . . ;VSj; . . . ; VSn) in the identified video content item 212(i) areretrieved and sent back to the companion device 160. Consequently, thecompanion device 160 receives the relevant metadata at step 408 and usesthem to draw and/or display a geographical representation (e.g. a map)corresponding to the geographical area where the action of the differentvideo scenes (VS1; . . . ; VSj; . . . ; VSn) takes place (step 409).Additionally, the GPS data of the video scenes (Gl; . . . ; Gj; . . . ;Gn) are used to position visual indications on the map indicating theplaces where the action of the different video scenes (VS1; . . . ; VSj;. . . ; VSn) takes place. Furthermore, the map displayed on thecompanion device 160 may be centered so that the visual indicationindicating the position of the video scene (VSj) currently beingdisplayed on the display device 140 is at the center of the companiondevice display screen.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the visual indicationindicating the position of the video scene (VSj) currently beingdisplayed on the display device 140 is different to the other visualindications thereby easing identification of the position of the videoscene (VSj) currently being displayed on the display device 140. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the visual indication of thevideo scene (VSj) currently being displayed on the display device 140may be in any appropriate form (e.g. color, shape, size, etc.) as longas it is possible to easily identify it among the other visualindications. For example, the visual indications could be displayed as aseries of numbers or timestamps reflecting the progression or timelineof the associated video scenes.

It will be apparent to someone skilled in the art that displaying ameaningful map to the user depends on the type of event displayed on thedisplay device 140. Indeed, the event displayed on the display device140 may have, for example, several different video scenes, real orimaginary, taking place in many different places. Therefore, it may bedifficult to choose an adequate scale factor for drawing and displayinga map that is easily readable and understandable by the end user. Thescale factor used to draw and display a map may therefore be chosen sothat the visual indications can be easily viewable by the end user. Inan embodiment of the present invention, the scale factor used by thecompanion device 160 may be, for example, specified by the user and/orprovided by the headend database 111 along with the relevant metadataand/or retrieved from the application settings. In another embodiment ofthe present invention, the companion device 160 may determine that thescale factor to be used may be chosen so that, for example:

-   -   all the visual indications are displayed; and/or    -   n (e.g. a pre-defined number) visual indications are displayed;        and/or    -   the visual indications corresponding to the video scenes just        before and just after the video scene currently being displayed        on the display device 140 are displayed; and/or    -   the maximum of visual indications are displayed according to a        minimum size of the visual indications (i.e. a minimum size of a        thumbnail image may be defined in order to be properly viewable        for the user).

At step 410, the companion device 160 may receive an input. In anembodiment of the present invention, this input may be received from theuser. The user may interact with the displayed map, for example, byrequesting additional information related to a particular video sceneand/or by requesting additional information on the actors or characterspresent in a particular video scene and/or by zooming in or out etc. Theuser may also choose to close the application at this step. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, the input may be received from theclient device 120. As explained previously in relation to FIG. 2, whenthe application is launched, the companion device 160 outputs a requestto the client device 120 in order to retrieve data that specificallycharacterize the event currently being displayed on the display device140 (event_id and Tp). The companion device 160 may also output regularrequests (e.g. every n seconds) to the client device 120 and may receivein response an input signaling a video scene change. The companiondevice 160 is then able to use the retrieved data to query regularly theheadend database 111. By doing so, the companion device 160 is thereforeable to detect a video scene change and dynamically update the map.

At step 411, the companion device 160 processes the input received. Inmost cases, the companion device 160 updates the map:

-   -   when the user requests additional information related to a        particular video scene or related to the actors or characters        present in a particular video scene, then the description        metadata may be extracted from the relevant metadata associated        to a particular video scene and displayed on the map;    -   when the user zooms in or zooms out, the companion device 160        re-draws the map according to the new scale factor and displays        the map newly drawn; and    -   when the companion device 160 detects a video scene change, the        map is updated so that the visual indication, corresponding to        the newly displayed video scene on the display device 140, is        positioned at the center of the map.

If the user chooses to leave the application then, the companion device160 stops requesting information from the client device 120, queryingthe headend database 111, displaying the map and closes the application.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A to 5D, which are pictorialillustrations showing different examples of screens displayed on acompanion device in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an event currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140—referred as the background event on FIG. 5A-5D—overlaid by amenu allowing the user to select and launch a plurality of applications.As explained hereinabove in the present specification, the applicationmay be launched either from the display device 140 or from the companiondevice 160. Furthermore, the geographical representation may bedisplayed either on the display device 140 or on the companion device160. FIG. 5A illustrates an event currently being displayed on thedisplayed device overlaid by a plurality of applications. The user mayuse a RCU 150 or the companion device 160 to navigate through theapplications displayed on the user interface and may choose oneapplication to be launched.

FIGS. 5B and 5C illustrates different geographical representationsassociated with a video content item 212(i) currently being displayed onthe display device 140. The geographical representations are drawn anddisplayed on the companion device 160 in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. As explained previously in relation to FIG. 4,the companion device 160 receives the relevant metadata associated to avideo scene (VSj) of the video content item 212(i) currently beingdisplayed on the display device 140 and uses them to draw and/or displaya geographical representation (e.g. a map) corresponding to thegeographical area where the action of the video scene (VSj) takes place(step 409). Additionally, the GPS data of the video scene (Gj) currentlybeing displayed on the display device 140 is used to position the visualindication (e.g. a thumbnail image characterizing the video scene (VSj)currently being displayed on the display device 140) on the map.Furthermore, the map displayed on the companion device 160 is centeredso that the thumbnail image is positioned at the center of the companiondevice display screen.

FIG. 5D illustrates a geographical representation associated with avideo content item 212(i) currently being displayed on the displaydevice 140. The geographical representation is drawn and/or displayed onthe companion device 160 in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention. As described previously in relation to FIG. 4, thecompanion device 160 receives the relevant metadata associated to videoscenes (VS1; VS2, VS3; VS4; . . . ; VSj; . . . ; VSn) in the identifiedvideo content item 212(1) (step 408) as results of the query sent to theheadend database 111. Consequently, the companion device 160 uses thesets of relevant metadata associated to the different video scenes (VS1;VS2, VS3; VS4; . . . ; VSj; . . . ; VSn) to draw and/or display ageographical representation (e.g. a map) corresponding to thegeographical area where the action of the different video scenes (VS1;VS2, VS3; VS4; . . . ; VSj; . . . ; VSn) takes place (step 409).Additionally, the GPS data of the video scenes (G1; G2, G3; G4; . . . ;Gj; . . . ; Gn) are used to position visual indications (e.g. thumbnailimages) on the map indicating the places where the action of thedifferent video scenes (VS1; VS2, VS3; VS4; . . . ; VSj; . . . ; VSn)takes place. Furthermore, the map displayed on the companion device 160may be centered so that the thumbnail image of the video scene (VSj)currently being displayed on the display device 140 is at the center ofthe companion device display screen.

Although the above embodiments have been described in the context of DVBimplementation, someone skilled in the art will realize that otherimplementations are possible.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, forclarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in anysuitable subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the invention is defined bythe appended claims and equivalents thereof.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method of displaying a displayed interactivegeographical representation associated with a video content item, saidmethod comprising: playing said video content item, wherein said videocontent item comprises a plurality of video scenes; requesting relevantmetadata associated with said video content item from an externaldatabase, said relevant metadata comprising a geographicalrepresentation of said video content item and geolocation metadataassociated with said plurality of video scenes, said geographicalrepresentation corresponding to a geographical area where action of saidplurality of video scenes of said video content item takes place;receiving said relevant metadata; and upon receiving said relevantmetadata, displaying said displayed interactive geographicalrepresentation of said video content item along with a plurality ofvisual indications, wherein one of said visual indications is athumbnail image characterizing said particular video scene, and each ofsaid plurality of VISUAL indications is representative of one videoscene of said plurality of video scenes and is positioned on saiddisplayed interactive geographical representation at a locationindicated by said geolocation metadata.
 18. The method of claim 17, saidmethod further comprising: retrieving a time elapsed since a start timefor said video content item; and identifying at least one video sceneaccording to said elapsed time, said identified at least one video scenecorresponding to a video scene of said video content item displayed atsaid elapsed time.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said receivingsaid relevant metadata comprises receiving, for each video scene of saidplurality of video scenes, one or more of: a thumbnail image; a summary;geolocation metadata; a geographical representation; and a scale factor.20. The method of claim 18, wherein said displaying said displayedinteractive geographical representation of said video content itemcomprises centering said displayed interactive geographicalrepresentation on said location indicated by said geolocation metadatarelevant to said identified at least one video scene.
 21. The method ofclaim 17, said method further comprising: receiving an input relevant tosaid displayed interactive geographical representation of said videocontent item displayed along with said plurality of visual indications;updating said displayed interactive geographical representation of saidvideo content item in response to said input; and displaying saidupdated displayed interactive geographical representation of said videocontent item.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said receiving aninput comprises receiving a user input requesting further informationassociated with one of said plurality of visual indications.
 23. Themethod of claim 21, wherein said receiving an input comprises receivinga user input requesting displaying said displayed interactivegeographical representation of said video content item according to adifferent scale factor.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein saidreceiving an input comprises receiving an input signaling a video scenechange.
 25. The method of claim 17, wherein said playing said videocontent item comprises playing said video content item at a firstdevice: and wherein said displaying said displayed interactivegeographical representation of said video content item comprisesdisplaying said displayed interactive geographical representation ofsaid video content item at a second device.
 26. The method of claim 25,wherein said video content item is an event requested by a user.
 27. Themethod of claim 25, wherein said first device is a client device. 28.The method of claim 25, wherein said second device is a companiondevice.
 29. The method of claim 21, wherein said receiving an input andsaid displaying said updated displayed interactive geographicalrepresentation of said video content item comprise receiving an inputand displaying said updated displayed interactive geographicalrepresentation of said video content item at a second device.
 30. Themethod of claim 29, wherein said second device is a companion device.31. A companion device comprising: means tor playing a video contentitem, wherein said video content item comprises a plurality of videoscenes: means for requesting relevant metadata associated with saidvideo content item from an external database, said relevant metadatacomprising a geographical representation of said video content item andgeolocation metadata associated with said plurality of video scenes,said geographical representation corresponding to a geographical areawhere action of said plurality of video scenes of said video contentitem takes place; means for receiving said relevant metadata; and meansfor displaying a displayed interactive geographical representation ofsaid video content item along with a plurality of visual indicationsupon receiving said relevant metadata, wherein one of said visualindications is a thumbnail image characterizing said particular videoscene, and each of said plurality of visual indications isrepresentative of one video scene of said plurality of video scenes andis positioned on said displayed interactive geographical representationat a location indicated by said geolocation metadata.
 32. A companiondevice comprising: a video player operative to play a video contentitem, wherein said video content item comprises a plurality of videoscenes; a processor operable to request relevant metadata associatedwith said video content item from an external database, said relevantmetadata comprising a geographical representation of said video contentitem and geolocation metadata associated with said plurality of videoscenes, said geographical representation corresponding to a geographicalarea where action of said plurality of video scenes of said videocontent item takes place; a receiver operable to receive said relevantmetadata; and a rendering screen operable to display a displayedinteractive geographical representation of said video content item alongwith a plurality of visual indications, wherein one of said visualindications is a thumbnail image characterizing said particular videoscene, and each of said plurality of visual indications isrepresentative of one video scene of said plurality of video scenes andis positioned on said displayed interactive geographical representationat a location indicated by said geolocation metadata.